Nicholls women fall to Northwestern State, out of SLC tourney

Published: Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 12:04 a.m.

KATY, Texas — Through determination, Nicholls State University's women's basketball team found its way back into its game against Northwestern State.

But the Colonels could not find its way into the 2014 Southland Conference Women's Basketball Tournament semifinals.

Nicholls trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half but overcame that deficit to take a 65-64 lead in its second-round game against the Lady Demons. However, the Colonels couldn't hold the momentum as Northwestern State scored the game's final five points to come away with a 69-65 win at the Leonard E. Merrell Center.

Northwestern State, the fourth seed, will play Lamar, the top seed, in a semifinal game at 11 a.m. today.

Nicholls, the fifth seed, tied its own conference tournament record with 14 3-pointers in its first-round win over Oral Roberts but was just 4-of-24 from behind the arc against Northwestern State.

Colonels head coach DoBee Plaisance said she was proud of the effort her team gave to overcome its poor 3-point shooting. She just wished a few more shots would've fallen.

"First of all give credit to Northwestern (State). It was a great game and they were prepared and in the right place, but I am very proud of our players. They have persevered this year and we persevered (Friday)," Plaisance said. "The outcome wasn't what we expected, but it isn't about the destination it is about the journey. I would take a journey with these women any day. They didn't give up and battled, but we came up a couple of plays short.

"I'm not taking credit away from anybody, but I'm very proud to go on this journey with these women. We wouldn't be here without (KK Babin and Emani White), and I would go into battle with these two any time. It was a tough game, and it just didn't go our way," Plaisance added.

A lot didn't go the Colonels' way in the first half, but they only trailed 32-29 at halftime.

The Demons (19-12 overall) opened the second half on a 12-2 run to go up 44-31 with 15:31 left to play.

Nicholls cut its deficit to five points, but Northwestern State held off that charge. When Kourtney Pennywell scored, it seemed the Lady Demons were in control with a 63-53 lead and 5:40 remaining.

It was at that point, Nicholls went a 12-0 run that gave them a 65-63 lead after Emani White (18 points) had a prayer answered with an off-balanced 3-pointer that just beat the shot clock.

The Lady Demons got a free throw to trail 65-64 and then forced a turnover to take possession with 1:27 left in the game. After Nicholls nearly forced a turnover, Northwestern State's Trudy Armstead got the ball on an inbound play and found Pennywell open for a layup and a 66-65 lead with 40 seconds left.

Again Nicholls didn't score on its next possession and was forced to foul. Jasmine Scott grabbed Armstead with 4.9 seconds left, and after a discussion, the officials decided Scott intentionally fouled Armstead giving Northwestern State two free throws and the ball.

Armstead made two free throws for a 68-65 lead, and Nicholls fouled Armstead again and she made one free throw for a four-point lead. Nicholls took a final desperation shot that was no good at the buzzer.

Even though she was fell to the court in tears after the loss, Babin said the comeback doesn't happen without the Colonels playing as a team.

"I just told my team we can get this. It didn't turn out our way, but we just tried to stay together as a team and pushed through together. It is just a shame that we didn't come out with a win," Babin said.

Nicholls (17-14) made 25-of-66 shot attempts and won the rebounding battle 41-37, while Northwestern State was 24-of-57 from the floor and 8-of-17 from behind the 3-point line.

The Lady Demons had four players in double figures led by Armstead's 19 points and she also pulled down 11 rebounds. Keisha Lee and Pennywell each had 12 points and Chelsea Rogers finished with 10 for Northwestern State.

Lady Demons head coach Brooks Stoehr said after Nicholls took the lead on White's 3-pointer, her team never lost focus and came together at the right time.

"First off, you have to tip your hat to Nicholls. We held the lead for almost the entire game until Emani White hits an unbelievable shot as the shot clock goes down," Stoehr said. "You have to give DoBee a lot of credit. When she took over that program it wasn't near what it is now, and KK Babin and Emani White had a great year for them.

"On the flip side, I couldn't be more proud of my kids. We were tough and we fought and when someone hits a shot like that it could be deflating. But, our body language was good and we came down and scored and executed. We executed down the stretch and play with energy and hung together," Stoehr added.

Babin finished with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Marina Lilly came off the Colonels' bench to score 10 points and grab seven rebounds.

<p>KATY, Texas — Through determination, Nicholls State University's women's basketball team found its way back into its game against Northwestern State. </p><p>But the Colonels could not find its way into the 2014 Southland Conference Women's Basketball Tournament semifinals.</p><p>Nicholls trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half but overcame that deficit to take a 65-64 lead in its second-round game against the Lady Demons. However, the Colonels couldn't hold the momentum as Northwestern State scored the game's final five points to come away with a 69-65 win at the Leonard E. Merrell Center.</p><p>Northwestern State, the fourth seed, will play Lamar, the top seed, in a semifinal game at 11 a.m. today. </p><p>Nicholls, the fifth seed, tied its own conference tournament record with 14 3-pointers in its first-round win over Oral Roberts but was just 4-of-24 from behind the arc against Northwestern State.</p><p>Colonels head coach DoBee Plaisance said she was proud of the effort her team gave to overcome its poor 3-point shooting. She just wished a few more shots would've fallen.</p><p>"First of all give credit to Northwestern (State). It was a great game and they were prepared and in the right place, but I am very proud of our players. They have persevered this year and we persevered (Friday)," Plaisance said. "The outcome wasn't what we expected, but it isn't about the destination it is about the journey. I would take a journey with these women any day. They didn't give up and battled, but we came up a couple of plays short. </p><p>"I'm not taking credit away from anybody, but I'm very proud to go on this journey with these women. We wouldn't be here without (KK Babin and Emani White), and I would go into battle with these two any time. It was a tough game, and it just didn't go our way," Plaisance added.</p><p>A lot didn't go the Colonels' way in the first half, but they only trailed 32-29 at halftime.</p><p>The Demons (19-12 overall) opened the second half on a 12-2 run to go up 44-31 with 15:31 left to play.</p><p>Nicholls cut its deficit to five points, but Northwestern State held off that charge. When Kourtney Pennywell scored, it seemed the Lady Demons were in control with a 63-53 lead and 5:40 remaining.</p><p>It was at that point, Nicholls went a 12-0 run that gave them a 65-63 lead after Emani White (18 points) had a prayer answered with an off-balanced 3-pointer that just beat the shot clock.</p><p>The Lady Demons got a free throw to trail 65-64 and then forced a turnover to take possession with 1:27 left in the game. After Nicholls nearly forced a turnover, Northwestern State's Trudy Armstead got the ball on an inbound play and found Pennywell open for a layup and a 66-65 lead with 40 seconds left.</p><p>Again Nicholls didn't score on its next possession and was forced to foul. Jasmine Scott grabbed Armstead with 4.9 seconds left, and after a discussion, the officials decided Scott intentionally fouled Armstead giving Northwestern State two free throws and the ball. </p><p>Armstead made two free throws for a 68-65 lead, and Nicholls fouled Armstead again and she made one free throw for a four-point lead. Nicholls took a final desperation shot that was no good at the buzzer.</p><p>Even though she was fell to the court in tears after the loss, Babin said the comeback doesn't happen without the Colonels playing as a team.</p><p>"I just told my team we can get this. It didn't turn out our way, but we just tried to stay together as a team and pushed through together. It is just a shame that we didn't come out with a win," Babin said. </p><p>Nicholls (17-14) made 25-of-66 shot attempts and won the rebounding battle 41-37, while Northwestern State was 24-of-57 from the floor and 8-of-17 from behind the 3-point line. </p><p>The Lady Demons had four players in double figures led by Armstead's 19 points and she also pulled down 11 rebounds. Keisha Lee and Pennywell each had 12 points and Chelsea Rogers finished with 10 for Northwestern State.</p><p>Lady Demons head coach Brooks Stoehr said after Nicholls took the lead on White's 3-pointer, her team never lost focus and came together at the right time.</p><p>"First off, you have to tip your hat to Nicholls. We held the lead for almost the entire game until Emani White hits an unbelievable shot as the shot clock goes down," Stoehr said. "You have to give DoBee a lot of credit. When she took over that program it wasn't near what it is now, and KK Babin and Emani White had a great year for them.</p><p>"On the flip side, I couldn't be more proud of my kids. We were tough and we fought and when someone hits a shot like that it could be deflating. But, our body language was good and we came down and scored and executed. We executed down the stretch and play with energy and hung together," Stoehr added. </p><p>Babin finished with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Marina Lilly came off the Colonels' bench to score 10 points and grab seven rebounds.</p>